I am an English Honours student reading in the Visva-Varati at Santiniketan. The other day my dearest friend Kakali was struck to see on my book shelf a small volume of the Pocket Oxford Dictionary. She asked me if it suffices my purpose in my studies, as its vocabulary is very limited. Learning of its special value for me she became curious to know what other things are in the list of my precious possessions and why. I hope, meeting Kakali’s curiosity I shall meet the demands of this question also.
When an underteen girl, my father thought to groom (= make worthy of) me so that I am able to study English myself. He disapproved of the theory of ‘grammar first, language next’. He taught me the basics of grammar and compositions. But he firmly held that self-reading of English books alongside (= side by side with lessons in grammar and language would be the best. So one day he gave me two abridged and simplified versions of David Copperfield and Gulliver’s Travels and the pocket edition of this Oxford Dictionary. I told Kakali that this little dictionary stood me in good stead (= made me stand by myself), as it has largely met my requirements in later times in reading Thomas Hardy or Jane Austen. So I prize (= value) it even today.
The next one that I showed her was the small white marble statue/effigy of the goddess Saraswati. You may call it a heirloom (= a dear possession obtained from one’s ancestor), because it was a prized possession of my father also. My grandmother had once narrated the event. She had it brought from Jaipur through someone and made a gift of it to father. The little dainty object stood there on her almirah. It had become my daily habit to pray to this deity before going to school. My grandmother again presented me the deity/idol when I set out for here. It is my second dear possession. Although it is carved out of white marble, yet Time has left on it its marks of soil and scratch. But, needless to say, it is all the dearer (= more precious) for (in spite of) that. My friend Kakali could not restrain her feelings of reverence towards the object, hearing of its background and significance.
But the third and the last object that I displayed shook her out of her composure (= settled mood). It was a shining little fancy- dagger that was cosily (= comfortable) housed in its dainty leather case. It is not only one of my dearest possessions, but a memento (= an object to remember something by). I had an uncle whom I looked upon with special reverence. He often fled home and used to be found holding banner in processions shouting slogans against the British Government. My grandmother always remained anxious and worried about him. She tried many methods to bring him to the book (= discipline him): bound amulets on his person, him put on magic stones etc. But he would not mend (= reform made himself). Although he clouded (= threw a shadow over) the joy of the elders, for the children of the house he was a boon. He played with them, told them interesting details of his prison life, brought them gifts when he returned from his self-imposed (= self inflicted) exile. He had a special soft corner for me. I still remember the day that he left us for good (= for ever).
I realize, today, that he looked unusually cheerful on that day. He called me to his room secretly and gave this little object to me. He said it is called ‘Kurki’ by the Nepaleese. When I looked at him in wonder, he said that to them it is a symbol of courage and national pride. Then he narrated to me the story of Bagha Jatin, the great freedom fighter, who had killed a tiger with one such dagger only.
At that moment, the gift pleased me as something normal, but a bit unusual. But today it is a precious memento. He had left quietly at predawn next day leaving our house despondent (= full of sorrow). He never returned.
